George Finley, NY Communities for ChangeAt a recent rally opposing a project that would redevelop the Bedford Union Armory into mixed-use residential housing by a “shady developer,” George Finley was standing front and center. “It’s trea...

Elizabeth Hulsen, 94th Precinct Community CouncilElizabeth Hulsen is a lifelong Greenpoint resident. Referred to by most as “Betty,” Hulsen has lived in the Brooklyn neighborhood for nearly all her life. Now at 77 years old, she’s serving her com...

Ajmain Hossain, Richmond Hill ResidentOn opening day for the new Apple store in Williamsburg, 17-year-old Ajmain Hossain walked in looking for a new charger. His family was about to go on vacation, and he was already going to Brooklyn ...

Debbie Hootam, Investors Branch ManagerInvestors Bank recently opened up its newest branch in Greenpoint, marking the 15th location they have in Brooklyn. Leading the branch is Debbie Hootam, who was born in Guyana and raised in East Fl...

Rachel Nager, Brooklyn Legal Services Corp. AWith the rapid change and development going on in Brooklyn, tenants have often faced mounting pressures and even illegal harassment from landlords. That’s when Rachel Nager, a staff attorney with B...

Jason Ferreira, Foodtown SupermarketFoodtown Supermarket, located at 76-10 37th Avenue, is a community staple in Jackson Heights. Originally a Shop Wise market, it was taken over by the family of Jason Ferreira in 1997. They started ...

Tony D., Williamsburg NativeOn the opening day of the McCarren Park Pool, Tony D. was lining up among the swarming teenagers who were ready to take a break from the heat. But unlike the rest of the hundreds of locals on line,...

Johnny Perez, Urban Justice CenterIf going to prison is bad, serving time in solitary confinement is even worse, especially the effects it has on a person’s mental health. Johnny Perez, 37, spent 13 years in jail, including three i...

Carlo Scissura, Brooklyn Chamber of CommerceLike many New Yorkers, Carlo Scissura was born to immigrant parents. His parents came from Italy and settled in Bensonhurst, where they opened up a restaurant. Scissura said he remembers working at...

Lara Beaty, LaGuardia Community CollegeThe ongoing battle between the Professional Staff Congress (PSC), the union representing CUNY faculty and staff, and elected officials in Albany has affected many people. Perhaps none are hurt more...

Jimmy Heath, Jazz MusicianFew people in the world can say they’ve played music with jazz legends Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie, but that rings true for longtime Corona resident Jimmy Heath. Heath, an NEA Jazz Master h...

Shane Vereen, Giants Running BackShane Vereen is a leading presence on the football field. The New York Giants running back has already won a Super Bowl with his previous team, the New England Patriots, and is now entering his sec...

Willis Elkins, Co-Chair/Newtown Creek CAGWednesday night’s meeting of the Newtown Creek Community Advisory Group (CAG) in Greenpoint got a bit heated. After a state Department of Health (DOH) official presented a study that concluded ther...

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced Friday that it will reanalyse all 254 urine samples taken from Russian athletes who took part in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. The IOC said it had also extended the mandate of its own Oswald disciplinary commission to examine all samples collected from Russian athletes during the London Summer Olympics in 2012. The decisions were taken, the IOC said, following the publication Friday of Richard McLaren's full report into doping in Russia that revealed an "institutional conspiracy" by Moscow to cheat between 2011-15.

LANSING, Michigan (AP) — Donald Trump is nearing a decision on who will lead the Republican National Committee and could tap Michigan Republican Party chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel for a leadership post Friday during his visit to Grand Rapids.